TV role for Bond star

Bond star Rachel Grant is to become a TV cop in a new series which programme bosses hope will become as successful as Inspector Morse.

Grant, 25, is to feature as Detective Constable Jenny Chen in the Manchester-based series Blue Murder, which begins shooting next month.

The Philippine-born actress can currently be seen smouldering in the latest 007 movie Die Another Day.

She stars as a Chinese agent named Peaceful Fountains Of Desire in the blockbuster movie which took more than £1m (€1.6m) during its first day of release at the UK box office – the highest ever opening for a Bond film.

Caroline Quentin takes the lead role in Blue Murder as a detective inspector who has to juggle her work with a trying home life.

Ian Kelsey – who has starred in Emmerdale and Casualty – also plays a prominent role as Quentin’s deputy.

Grant has previously been a dancer on Top Of The Pops and a presenter for the Sci-Fi Channel.

Producer Jane Macnaught said: “Blue Murder is a fresh take on modern day policing set in contemporary Manchester.

“It’s vibrant, pacy and exciting with as much emphasis on home life and relationships as solving a gritty murder.”

TV bosses are so far working on two 90-minute films but they are hoping it will become a long-running series if they prove to be a success.